Steam trap



March 29,1927. 1,623,003

A. L. GRANDSTAFF STEAM TRAP Filed June 25. 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS March 29, 1927. 1,623,003

A. 1.. GRAN DSTAFF STEAM TRAP Filed June 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNV-ENTOR J21]. arazmg g ATTORNEYS peeled Mar. 29, 1921. 1,623,003

lilyinvention is a trap offthe typeiiadapted Figure :2 is a (view similar t ,tFigur fl, for 'iise -in "a steam line ?to discharge =con- 'showingitheWalve in openl position, 1 dens'ate --there'froni when the condensate Fi-gi re 3is'aplan viewo'f'theibody of the within -the iirap.i 'eaches; a certain level or casing "df' the device and of Fthe Tvalve and 5 for use inseparatingdluids df difl'ernt -spe- 'Jass'dciatedHiartsiin sthebody, =the cap 'ofthe cifi'c .ig'ravities, and itfconsiste in Ithe combieasing being: omitted, nati'ons, constructions and ai rangemefit-s Figure 4=is a'faceview of'iihe liodyr-section herein described and claimed. 0f1thecasingof; a modified forin io'fitrap em- Aii object of the invention is {the prohod'yiijg the Zin'vehti'on, showing a valve, 1o visionoE ii-trap off-the characterdescribed valve 5operati1ig' nieohanisni and associated having fi' al vedmlfilet adapted when open pa rtsiinihe bodyiofilihe casing, to permit "the --1)":1 ssage therethrough of a Figure 5 is a ;transverse verticalse'ction relatively great voluine of fluid *in eigiven tlir'oughitlieiforni ofltrap' shownlin-Figi, time for 'a trap of {1. given size. 7 EFigure G"isiailongitudinal vertical section 15 A inrthehdhj'eklt of che invent-ion is the lhrough :a ffraginentaryportion ofa modiprovision in a-arapof the'char'acter described ificd form of ring vvalve .which gmay be used of a novel valve seat, valve 'a'nd valve opin either ofithe "two *forms of ,trap Which' rating inech anism whereby the valve is arei-exhibite'd' inthe preceding views, and adapte'd-to"he-1noved quicklyandpositively Figure :7 is la transverse vertical section 20 i in 1H and to its .seat and "the trap :c-hn be th-roiighgtheportionofthefring valve-shown used for a relatively long time Without such inIEigQG.

wear onthecontactenrfaoesof thevalve and The iformkofftrapexhibited in Figs. 1 to valve seat as would tend to prevent :leak- 3, indlusive, has asdhstantially oval-shaped prool contact of Che valve with the valve easingncolnprisingca ,body section "1121116. a 25 seat when fhe valve closed. cap sectionfiwhich is :adapted to be;secu1-ed A. .U-twllQP-OlJjQCto-fwheinvention isthepioin iplaceonihe'body-section by screws 3'01 vision in a trap of the characterRlescribed like 'fastening devices. {Phe body 1 ;is oil a valve seat ineinber 'havii'ig a contact forlnedatone end above thelevel o'flhebot- "face adapted to be' grou'nd 'when required to tomitliereof with an outletopening EL. The S0 0 conform accurately to the contour of the onterxendiportion of theioutletfopening. 4- contact face of the associated valve Withdut ma be continuous Witlrthe-boreof anipple there being any neces'sity of removing the having 'screw threads, .as at '6, and thus valve Seat member for gi-in'ding'oriforfdisad-apt'ed rforic'onneetion withga [drain pipe,

asselnbling'the parts of h'e device. vnot s'hown 'or other .itubhlar conduit. The A still further object (if fdh'e inventio'n is inner end iportioniofthe outlet opening is the provision of trnpo'ffthe characterdescrew threadedinternally for engagement scribed which. isSimple*in construetion, coinwviththe externally'screw'threaded oiiter end prises only parts which eanibeaqiiieklyiancl portion of a tubular valve seat member 7 esisily assembled, disassembled ahd re'pa'ired, whic hfiniay havegaJflange 8 adjacent to. but 40 and is thoroughly practical eoinlnerdial-ly. paced ffrorhl'its innersend,adaptedto abut '(Dther objects and adva tagesefrhe m i'e inner "walliof theibody 1 surrounding ven'tion Will be apparent from die iiollo'w the du-filetiopeiiingAwvhen iihe;tubnlartvalve mp; description, considered in colnju'ncti-on seat lnm bf isdn iplace in the outletopen- \vitlr'th'e accompanying di awings ii n whidh: ing-r41, a 45 Figure 1 is alongit u'dinal v'e'i- "ca'l e'ection M etina-1g.valveifiiis disposed vrticallyedgethrough the improved Wfzip, showing Qtihe wi se"imtheihodyio f fihe trap easing with the valve of the trap closed the ;-val v eand fihe axis of jtheliring walveektending in a difloat therefoi' and 'the j-\ e ;eetnember 'of rectio'n at rigrht anglesfto thedirection-ofthe the device bein isho wn inai-n1y-in1eva- {a sof fihevaleve sehtmember 7. 100 'tionavitli portionst ereo f}hroken aiwayiand appreciable .aXialmOVement iof the otherportionsfehownineecfiion, r-ing-fl-in the cztsiixmgxofihetrapisprevented by a pair of horizontally spaced guide lugs which extend inwardly from said one end wall of the body 1 of the casing above the level of the out-let opening in straddling relation to a portion of the ring valve and a loop 11 which encircles a portion of the ring valve and is movably supported adjacent to the opposite end of the body of the casing bot-h the lugs 10 and the loop 11 being disposed slightly above the level of the axis of the ring valve. The ring valve is shiftable edgewise or in other words in a direction at right angles to its axis between the position shown in Fig. 1 and the position shown in Fig. 2. When the ring valve is in the position shown in Fig. 1, portions of rim flanges 12 on the ring valve at the opposite edges of the outer periphery thereof straddle the extending inner end portion of the valve seat member 7 and the corresponding portion of the outer periphery of the ring valve bearsa-gainst the inner end wall or contact face 13 of the valve seat member and covers the inner end of the bore of the tubular valve seat member. The contact face 13 of the valve seat member is curved concavely in vertical sectional contour about a radius of the ring valve, so that any portion of the regularly curved peripheral contact face of the ring valve 9 be tween the rim flanges 12 will seat closely against the contact face of the valve seat member when the ring valve is moved edgewise from the position shown in Fig. 2 against the Contact face of the valve seat member. The contact face of the valve seat member preferably is rectangular in outline with the lower corners thereof rounded oil' at 14. and the bore of the valve seatmember preferably is rectangular in cross section.

When the ring valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2, portions of the rim flanges 12 rest on the upper end portion of an upstanding supporting lug or rest 15 which is formed within the body of the caseon the bottom of the latter approximately midway between the guide lugs 10 and the loop 11. The upper or supporting face of the lug 15 is curved concavely to conform to the curvature of the outer peripheral wall of the ring valve.

The loop 11 is swingingly supported at its inner end in a horizontal opening in the upstanding arm 16 of a bell crank lever 17 which is fulcrumed on a horizontal pivot element 18. The latter is supported within the ring valve parallel to the axis of the ring valve by a pair of arms 19 of a bracket which includes a vertical attaching arm 20 having an outturn-ed upper end portion 21 secured in a recess 22 in the upper edge portion of the body 1 of the case of the trap by a screw 23. The attaching arm 20 of the bracket depends between the ring valve and the adjacent and wall of the body of the casing while the arms 19 straddle the adjacent portion of the ring valve at a level slightly lower than that of the guide lugs 10. The bell crank 17 also includes a relatively long arm 2 1 in addition to the arm 16 and this relatively long arm extends within the ring valve and supports a float 25 for movement within the ring valve. An end less series of transverse teeth 26 is formed in the inner periphery of the ring valve and a pusher )rojection or pawl 27, which is rigid with the bell crank, extends within the ring valve at the opposite side of the axis of the pivot element 18 from the float supporting arm 2st and is adapted to engage with a teeth 26 of the ring valve when the float 25 moves upward from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward the position shown in Fig. 2 and to then shift the ring valve edgewise from position against the valve seat member 7 as shown in Figure 1 to position away from said valve seat member and upon the upstanding rest 15, as shown in Fig. 2, the ring valve being shifted circumferentially by reason of the engagement of the pusher projection 2'7 with a tooth 26 during the edgewise movement of the ring valve.

The float 25 moves vertically in the body of the casing of the trap with the level of liquid within the casing. This liquid may be condensate which enters the casing with steam through an inlet 28 in the upper part of the body 1 of the casing. The opening 29 is for connection with a pet cock, not shown, to permit escape of any air that may accumulate in the trap.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The ring valve is pulled or rolled edgewise from open position on the rest 15 as shown in Fig. 2 to closed position against the valve seat member 7, as shown in Figure 1. by the loop 11, when the bell crank lever actuated by reason of the float moving downward from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. Since the ring valve shifts circumferentially or about its axis each time it is moved edgewise. it. is obvious that a ditlercnt portion of the outer periphery of the ring valve will contact with the contact face of the valve seat. member each time the ring valve is moved to clo ed position until the ring valve has been shittecl about its axis through 360. The wear on the contact surface of the ring valve therefore will be uniformly distributed and will be relatively slight on any one portion of the contactsurface of the ring valve when the device has been used in the service for which it is intended for a given time. The device therefore will be unimpaired after service for a relatively long time. The loop 11 contacts with the rim flanges of the ring valve and therefore does not cause any wear seat member and then (applying grindingcompound to :the contact 'face of -the ring valve and turning the latter fiby'hand in contact with the contact iace 'of the Evalve-seat member.

The wounded lo'wer moi-11ers 1 of ethe iinner I end of the valve 1 seat membensmviras a iul crmn on "which the iing valve rolls from the position sho'w'n in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 without appreciable Wear on the contact *iace of "the win v'alve.

The ding valve-is ad apted to hea'etu-ated by rel-ativly small float and the motion transmitting #me'cha'nism which has scribed ito cov'er a 'liq-uid -'di-'seh'arge orifice or outlet or relatively gl'ea't -ar'ea and 'there- "fore the improved t'rap is adapted to discharge a relatively great volumeof liq'ui'd in agiventime for atrap df a given size. The ring valve will be quickly moved -'to zand from its seat, thus precluding wire dl -awing "between the "valve and its seat, either when the valve is opening or-closing.

The forniof the trap shown in Figures i and 5 has acasingcomprising a=bod-y section 3'1fhaving -an eiilarged rim *poitio'n 82 .in Which thering valve-9 -is movlalo'le'edgewise to and from position to" engage with the contact face "of ft-he valve seat-member 7 which secui'edin place in-anoiitlet-opelr 33 "in therim .porti'ong'of the body =section "31 above the levelef "the lowest -ipa1't oftho space *withinthe "latter. A substantially crescent shaped b'aflie or -deflector member ii-extends bettveen the side walls of the case and within'the ring valve --9,- the proximate "to the Ting valve and to the-ri1n portion of thebody section 3 1- 'an'd'co'o'pera'ting with the latterto define"a relati-Velynarrow passage at 35 with'inthebody 3lfrom the upper part of the latter "to and below "the level of theloore o f th'e valve seat j'lIlQllh her '7 in the outlet cpening 53. "iUfloat '36 is disposed within the "ring valve 9 aiidissupported on a l'elativeiy short arm 37 of "a-"bell crankflevei' having air-upstanding arm '38 "formed at its extremity to engage with the teeth 26 jinthe inner Will df theWing-vztlve 9. The lever 3 738 *is 'ful'erum'e'd on ii-he crossbar at the inneneifdof a loop which passes around the i'in'g valve end is inclined downward toward its outeneiid. arm 40 depends from the juneti-ire 'of the armsn37 and 38Jand may engage w-ith the-innerface MOVGI ot "the Wing valve -'to rlimit th-e :swingii'ig mov'em'ent goi 'the. yfioat- 36 toward the adj a cent portion of the ring al ve. i1 he 'oasing of the modified form of the device includes also "a --side"eover 'Zoi capisection 4-1 which is -secured EtO tlIB rbedy {section by -sereWs ilhe hereinhefore nnentioned baffle 34 comiprise's a section integral with the body .31 oi? the case-and -a Fcoopeitating section integral. with the cap section41= of the case,-as show-n ziniFig. 55. When the :ring wval've :is -1n'oved away lfI'OIIl #its 'seat, :the suction on the gpas- :sage 35 at the time'flischarge ofdiquidltakes place will 5 cause discharge from the :casing of air which has accumulated in the upper pei t(tithe-casing and:the fol-m obthede- 'ice'shownin Fig. oftherefore is Well adapt ed ior draining heating systems, mediators and lovv pressure *lines. Let it be assumed that theimodified fiform: of the device is conneete'd -to a steam line, not shown, "for drain- =-ing condensate. as formed and for discharging it {to EH16 iatmosphere or zany other ;place at which there exists ja apres's'ure less th-an thepressure=offtheeline. Thezring valve 9 nonmall-y would zrest .011 *the "bottom of rthe irimf32. The trap is installed so that the inlet end "ou-tletfconnections wthereof will be level and the easing rtherefore evill contain member 38 EdOQS notfengageian-ya of tthefteeth QG- -WheI'itheYtrap is devoid ofwaterand the ring v'alve. rests o'n the bottomr oi the-rin'i 32. he float 36 is.-"raisetlfas the height of the Water level in the trap increases as Water enters the *tr-ap through the inlet: of 'the trap hintil the member Z-BS engages with one :of theiteeth 36. This ea'uses an upward -ini-l; al-. 'ali'ced force :on the firiglit hand side of the ring valve-9.1m that"uhering :valve is moved =ont0 'h'e va lve seat member 7 in position 'to ie ioi ifi'ce 33. YVVater accumulating thereafter Withina'theftrap will lift the3 float 36 ist-ill h th e'r u' jiwardly and Willcause 'the r'in g walveito move upwardly iflOIH 'the oriiice 38 so that-t11e4orifice=33 Will'=be-open to a slight extent. Ehe{float-=and"the ring VEalve theieafter "will oscillate through -'a limited -'1 an'ge -'-b aek and forth; the ring Ivalveoscill-eiting -'between open and *dlosed positions and hemg moved upwardly a'vhenfithe floet mo-ves upwa dlybecause qf the engagement of the The modified=-ierin ofrin'g valvespai tiaily fshown in i'Ei-gsrfiiantl 7 has an iannular body 9 tfo'rm'e'ld with {transverse teeth" in its inner swell and with ontxva'rdly extending flanges 12 at the edges hf iits outer-wall. 31669 50 'a-refiermed "ins'theiinner faces of the fiim ges at the juncture OfitlllFlfiLfitGl *avith the eady 9! of the "ring f valve. 'A iifiac-y 'l g strip 51- 'can *be proje t d .e d i with he side edger portionsithereof inengag m th teagentialeelets '52 tc: position fiativise against the outer wall of the body 9 with the edge portions of the facing strip received in the slots 50.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a casing having an outlet opening, a valve seat member extending inwardly within the casing from said outlet opening, a ring valve within the casing and having a peripheral surface adapted to cooperate with said valve seat member to close said outlet, and means responsive to the rise and fall of liquid within the casing for shifting said ring valve edgewise against and away from said valve seat.

2. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, and float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to engage with said valve seat.

3. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve'in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, and float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to engage with said valve seat and for simulta neously shifting said ring valve about its axis. I

4. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to enwith said valve seat and guide means within the casing preventing; appreciable axial movement of said ring valve.

5. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of'thering valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, and float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to engage with said valve seat, said valve seat being curved to lie in an arc of a circle struck by a radius coincident in length with a radius of the ring valve.

6. In a trap, a casing having an outletv for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, and float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to engage with said valve seat, said valve seat being curved to lie in an arc of a circle struck by a radius coincident in length with a radius of the ring valve, said ring valve having outwardly extending flanges at the edges of its periphery adapted to straddle said periphery when said ring valve is in contact with said valve seat.

7. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, a float within the ring valve, a lever fulcrumed within the ring valve and attached to said float, a pull loop carried by said lever and encircling a portion of said ring valve in position to pull said ring valve edgewise onto said valve seat when said float moves downward in the casing below a definite level, cooperative ineans carried by said lever and said ring valve for causing said ring valve to be pushed from said valve seat when said float moves upward in the casing above said definite level.

8. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, a float within the ring valve, a bell crank lever fulcrumed within the ring valve adjacent to the inner wall of the ring valve, a float carried at the end of the inner arm of said bell crank, the other arm of said bell crank being upstanding, a loop carried by the last named arm of the bell crank encircling the adjacent portion of the ring valve, said ring valve having an endless series of transverse teeth in its inner wall, and a pusher projection carried by said lever in position to engage teeth of said ring valve when said float moves upward from a definite level to push said ring valve from said valve seat and to rotate said ring valve, said loop being adapted to pull said ring valve onto said valve seat when said float moves downward below said definite level.

9. In a trap, a casing having an outlet for liquid, means providing a valve seat at the inner end of the outlet, a ring valve in the casing, the peripheral surface of the ring valve being adapted when in contact with the valve seat to cover said outlet, float controlled means within said casing for shifting said ring valve to and from position to en gage with said valve seat, and an upstanding projection on the bottom of said casing on which said ring valve rests when the ring valve has been moved edgewise from posi tion against said valve seat.

10. In a device of the character described,

a ring valve having outwardly extending flanges at the edges of its outer periphery, said flanges having alined slots in the inner Walls of said flanges at the juncture of said flanges and the body of the ring valve and tangential entering slots extending from said first named slots to the outer edges of the flanges, and a facing strip adapted to be moved endvvise with the side edge portions thereof in said tangential slots to position to 10 be disposed entirely on the periphery of the body of the ring valve with the side edge portions of the strap received in said first named slots.

ALBERT L. GRANDSTAFF. 

